UAW organizes Missouri PPG plant

DETROIT -- The UAW claimed its third victory in a month at PPG Industries Inc., after a vote at the company's glass plant in O'Fallon, Mo., the union said late Thursday, July 27.

Last month, workers at the auto supplier's plants in Crestline, Ohio, and Evansville, Ind., also voted in favor of UAW representation.

O'Fallon contract workers employed by Staff Management approved the union by the highest margin of the three plants, with 63 percent of the vote, according to a UAW press release. The UAW will represent more than 100 production and maintenance workers at the plant. PPG contracts with Staff Management to handle personnel functions at O'Fallon.

Workers at the Crestline plant voted 53 percent in favor of representation, while the Evansville plant's organizing vote passed with 54 percent. PPG now has five operations that are organized by the UAW.

PPG, of Pittsburgh, ranks No. 32 on the Automotive News list of the top 150 suppliers to North America, with estimated North American original-equipment automotive parts sales of $1.54 billion in 2005. It supplies coatings and glass.